The Zombie Sage in Naruto

Human experimentation, what an intriguing phrase.

"Iwagakure wouldn't start a strategic operation like this without a deeper reason. Kaede Senzō, don't die out there, or I'll have to find another way to get your jutsu."

…

At the gates of Konohagakure (konoha), the guard unit once again watched as Kaede Senzō led a team out. But this time, no one was talking about him.

Now, many other prominent Konoha ninja were also leaving. Veterans from the Sunagakure(hidden sand village) frontlines, after months of recovery, were being sent back to confront the threat from Iwagakure(hidden stone village).

There was a steady stream of severely wounded ninja returning home or the lifeless bodies of the fallen being brought back. The guards had grown accustomed to it.

"The atmosphere is heavier than before. Iwagakure's madness has everyone on edge."

Kaede Senzō felt it too, the shift in morale. From the joy after repelling Sunagakure(hidden sand village) to rage and disbelief, and now… numbness.

Yet, things were not at their worst. A few years later, when the Third Great Ninja War truly erupted, the full terror would unfold, with all Five Great Nations and countless smaller villages thrown into chaos.

The team moved quickly through the forests of the Land of Fire. Kaede glanced at Might Daisuke, who led the way. He said nothing. Aside from Kaede himself, Daisuke had unmatched stamina.

"We need information from the front lines. We can't rush into the Land of Hot Water without preparation."

Kaede quietly began weaving hand seals. This caught the attention of Iriba, a Byakugan user, and Shibi from the Aburame clan, both alert due to their sensory abilities.

But after a few moments, Kaede relaxed his hands; nothing happened.

Iriba and Shibi exchanged confused looks.

"Lord Kaede, did you sense something unusual? Is there an infiltration from Kumogakure(hidden cloud village)?"

Iriba activated his Byakugan, scanning far ahead. His expression grew tense. In the surrounding area, tens of kilometers away, he saw zombies following their group. But each undead was strangely moving in a limited range, as if each had a designated territory.

Were these Kaede's doing? Had he silently summoned them all? Or did he prepare the forest before the mission even began?

Iriba was shocked. Kaede had set this up ahead of time. If enemies appeared, these zombies would be the first line of defense, creating a mobile "safe zone" around the squad.

But the most terrifying part? The coordination. Dozens of zombies spread across vast distances, all under Kaede's precise control.

"This was all part of the plan," Shibi said calmly. His insects had also sensed the undead.

Kaede didn't turn around. "No need to worry; it's not Kumogakure(hidden cloud village). I just sent out a few of my servants to scout the situation in the Land of Hot Water. We need solid intel before we meet with Lord Dan."

Wait, he's scouting from here? That's nearly 200 kilometers away!

The others were stunned. They knew Kaede could use zombies for reconnaissance, but controlling them from this far away?

Even Kaede didn't waste chakra like that; it was inefficient.

Far away, out of Byakugan and insect range, a zombie performed a summoning jutsu at the base of a massive tree.

A large pitcher plant grew.

"Ugh, just a corpse again? He won't even send a clone to talk to us?" White Zetsu complained to the zombie. "It reminds me of when Sandstorm Araki devoured all my clones."

Black Zetsu muttered, "You've eaten your fair share of corpses. Focus. Also, to my knowledge, Lord Kaede doesn't know the Shadow Clone Technique—and doesn't need to."

"Don't lie. If he doesn't, one of his zombies definitely does. It can't be hard for the caster to learn from them."

White Zetsu then delivered his report.

"As expected, Dan's about to die. The Four-Tails Jinchūriki triggered an underground volcano in the Land of Hot Water."

Kaede's body jolted to a halt. "Everyone, move faster!"

"What's going on?" asked one of the team.

"I understand the enemy's plan. Our comrades are in serious danger. At worst, we lose the entire force."

Lose everyone?

Everyone went pale but quickly picked up their pace, pushing their stamina to the limit.

They could feel the distant tremors.

As they crossed into the borderlands, the ground shook beneath their feet. The further they traveled into the Land of Hot Water, the more intense the tremors became. The sky overhead turned blood-red, as if stained with gore.

It wasn't the fall of Iwagakure(hidden stone village). It was the near-annihilation of Konoha's forces.

"The land is cracking from the northern coastline deep into the interior! Magma is rising through the fissures! What is happening?!"

"An earthquake?"

"No. If it were, both sides would be affected. Kaede believes this is the enemy's doing."

"What jutsu can reshape the land and sky? Unless…"

Everyone thought of one thing: Tailed Beasts.

Even Kaede had never faced one directly. None of them had.

"Iwagakure really pulled out all the stops—deploying a tailed beast. Don't they fear we might capture it?"

He learned from Zetsu that Rōshi, the Four-Tails Jinchūriki, led a force of 1,000 Iwa ninja to the border.

But he hadn't expected this—a plan to use the Four-Tails' Lava Release to trigger chaos?

"The Four-Tails, lava, and dormant volcanoes—a surprisingly perfect match. They're channeling the very power of the earth."

Kaede thought of Sasuke's Kirin and Madara's Tengai Shinsei—jutsu that tapped into natural forces. They surpassed standard ranks—beyond S-rank.

This was likely the battle where Dan would fall.

"All units, speed up. We need to rescue as many comrades as possible. If we're here, we fight."

He warned them of potential climate shifts due to the sudden geological activity.

Kaede pulled out two scrolls, flinging them open. Waves of zombies poured out, forming a defensive line as they ran.

"Gate of Life, open!" shouted Might Daisuke, activating his Eight Gates technique. He glanced at Kaede, waiting for the next command.

"Don't rush in alone—stay coordinated. The enemy probably won't push deep into the Land of Hot Water. That works in our favor."

"What about you, Lord Kaede?"

"I'm going to find Dan. A village's elite shouldn't fall to cheap tricks."

The further north they traveled, the more twisted the terrain became. Zombies spread out, scouting every path.

Soon, Iriba spotted something.

"Reinforcements?"

"Dozens of figures… wait—many are missing blood despite the damage. Kaede's zombies?"

Some Konoha ninja had survived, but hundreds had already fallen to the lava and steam.

Some Hot Water ninja appeared too, mourning their ruined homeland. But no one cared. Small nations held no power without a Jinchūriki or legends like Hanzō.

Fortunately, only the northern coast had suffered.

Once peace returned, perhaps the Land of Hot Water could be a haven of spas and serenity.

Kaede remained grim. He saved who he could, using zombies to pull comrades from danger. Those he couldn't save, he left behind.

Then one zombie spotted something.

"Finally. Rōshi and Dan are engaged."

Kaede looked skyward. Let's hope Dan can hold on; his Spirit Transformation Technique is too rare to lose.

Kaede never saw himself as a savior. He couldn't save everyone. But someone with a valuable jutsu and a good character? That was different.

If he could, he'd rescue Dan. He even had an idea that might alter the future in interesting ways.

If not, then the operation was a failure. A support captain like him couldn't change that.

"Ugh, another failed S-rank mission on my record…"

Kaede's zombies surged into the area, pulling wounded Konoha ninja from near the lava's edge.

The undead knew no fear. If Kaede commanded them to jump into magma to save one person, they would.

At one point, a zombie leaped into lava, creating a stepping stone for a falling ninja.

Witnessing such scenes left the survivors speechless.

"This… this is the new secret jutsu? Corpse Release? I won't forget it."

"To think—using enemies' bodies to save allies. Brilliant!"

"Using enemy corpses to protect comrades? There's no greater jutsu!"

Even those who once feared the undead were now deeply grateful.

"Lord Kaede, the coast is the most dangerous!"

"Dan stayed behind to buy us time. Please be careful!"

"There's a huge chakra source nearby," Iriba added.

The team rushed through the chaotic terrain.

Kaede finally ordered, "Stop here. I'll go on my own."

"What?! No way!" Daisuke shouted. "I haven't told you—I can push the Eight Gates further—"

(To Be Continued)